David

Karki

Read David's bio and previous columns here

November 10, 2008

OK, Republicans, Maybe Now You See: Being Watered-Down Democrats Doesn’t Work

Can we all finally conclude that being watered-down Democrats doesn't work? From Bush I to Bob Dole to Bush II to John McCain, we've been running moderate Republicans who've done everything possible to blur distinctions and hide from the dreaded C-word – conservatism – and now we have nothing to show for it but total and complete defeat. Given the choice between Democrats and almost Democrats, voters will choose the real McCoy.

Yet there will be those who insist that because Democrats won, the only way Republicans can win is to be even more like them. Most of these folks are simply interested in perpetuating their careers related to politics, and I guess that so long as you lack both a soul and principles, such advice might serve you. (Though given last Tuesday's results, I wouldn't bet on it.) 

But for those who are principled and do have a soul, it should be clear that there is no point at all in trying to be like Democrats. If we're going to lose anyway, we might as well lose on what we believe in and go down guns blazing.

And it's entirely possible that running as proud conservatives will not lead to victory in the short term. Another truth gleaned from this election result is that liberalism has the advantage right now, both demographically and culturally. Believers in small government are outnumbered, and the long march through the institutions begun in the 1960s by the far left has borne its ultimate fruit. This will not be easy to neutralize, much less reverse. And it may well be impossible.

That said, there is no one more free than one with nothing to lose. If we must spend time in the wilderness, the biggest shame of all would be that we didn't put that time to its best possible use. We must understand both the stakes of the battle and the nature of the enemy, as well as get rid of all those who would undermine future efforts.

Stakes of the battle. First of all, we must understand that this is a battle. John McCain never figured this out, busy as he was “reaching out to his friends across the aisle.” In order to win any fight, you must first see that you're in one. The left means to forcibly re-make America (if not the world) in its Marxist image, leaving nothing untouched. Standing in the way of that means incurring their substantial wrath.

The America bequeathed us by the founders thus hangs in the balance. If that isn't enough to see the battle joined, take off the gloves, and throw out the Marquis of Queensbury rules, I don't know what is.

Nature of the enemy.  The only reason Democrats would take the hand McCain and his fellow moderates would reach out to them would be to rip it from its socket and leave them pulling back a bloody stump. Liberals operate similarly to how Kyle Reese describes The Terminator: “It's what he does! It's all he does! He'll never stop!” There is no reasoning with them, no relenting, no abating of determination. They are locked into their single-minded pursuit of their liberal utopia, convinced that those ends always justify the tyrannical means. Unless we understand that and match it in our own way, the rest is all academic.

Last, or perhaps I should say first, anybody not on board with being conservative and fighting the good fight needs to be shown the door. No entity can win a conflict if they are busy fighting amongst themselves, and as moderate/liberal Republicanism has been proven to be a total failure (again), I would say the initiative lies with these folks to depart if they have not or simply will not see the light. Once we have a unified force, then the rest can proceed apace.

Once we've shown America that we are a clear alternative, a choice rather than a weak echo, then we'll have a chance to win again. And that opportunity will come sooner rather than later. America is $70 trillion in the hole and counting thanks to entitlements, and that Ponzi scheme is going to come crashing down with the retirement of the Baby Boomers no matter what.

There isn't enough money in all the universe to cover that, and the trillions of new taxes and spending sure to be passed by Obama/Pelosi/Reid will only exacerbate it and accelerate our speed toward the financial cliff. A day of serious reckoning lies ahead, and Democrats are neither willing nor able to acknowledge that fact, much less deal with it. (They would sooner steal everyone's 401(K) and IRA monies merely to briefly delay the inevitable.)

Only a conservative GOP that has rebuilt its bonafides during these years in the wilderness will have any credibility to stand against the Democrats and offer a true alternative. If we fail to do this, then we might as well just start preparing to withstand the cataclysms that are sure to come.

“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.” – Samuel Adams

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